LaCie Adds 5big NAS Pro for Small Businesses

LaCie announced the 5big NAS Pro, a 5-bay network-attached storage solution powered by Intel.

Thanks to hybrid cloud technology, the 5big NAS Pro lets employees collaborate using a single interface for both network/cloud storage and remote access. Plus, data stays secure thanks to novice-friendly SimplyRAID and client-side cloud encryption.

Fast professional collaboration
With transfer speeds up to 200MB/s, the 5big NAS Pro boosts business productivity. Powered by a dual-core 2.13GHz Intel 64-bit Atom processor and 4GB RAM, it also features dual LAN and link aggregation for optimized network speeds. This performance-driven combination accelerates file sharing, remote access, and backups for small businesses.

Hybrid cloud
LaCie is an external storage company that owns its cloud storage, Wuala. As a result, the company is positioned to deliver an hybrid cloud solution. The 5big, with NAS OS 3 and integrated Wuala, features network-attached and cloud storage in a single view. This means wherever the user is or whatever the device (computer or mobile), they can access data quickly from one interface. Administrators can also manage users and groups in two mouse clicks.

Data security
In addition to industry-standard RAID modes (5, 5+spare, 1, or 0), the 5big NAS Pro ships with SimplyRAID, which makes RAID management easy. Behind the scenes, it chooses the fastest and most secure RAID mode according to the number of disks. This way, it’s possible to benefit from RAID security and performance, with zero understanding of RAID. SimplyRAID also lets users get improved available storage compared to traditional RAID solutions when using disks of different sizes. Furthermore, the browser-based LaCie Rescue utility allows the administrator to install the OS on a diskless chassis or recover from a system failure using the included USB key.

Data stored on Wuala are encrypted before they are sent to the cloud so no one, not even a LaCie employee, could access them. While competing cloud storage services could read files due to employee wrongdoing or court order, files stored on Wuala are solely accessible by the user or administrator.

The LaCie 5big NAS Pro, design by Neil Poulton, is available this quarter in 0TB, 10TB and 20TB capacities through the LaCie Online Store and LaCie Partners starting at $549. The product also features a 100GB free trial of Wuala Business Secure Cloud Storage for three months.

The 5big NAS Pro is protected by a three-year limited warranty. It includes complimentary web-based resources, expert in-house technical support, and worldwide repair/replacement coverage. Warranty extensions and Advance Care Option can also be purchased.